Ongoing
Ongoing
No monthly fees
0% AER
Business overdraft available upon invitation
Apply in minutes
No monthly or annual fee
Helpful UK based telephone customer service
Ongoing
No monthly fees
3.55% AER
Various credit options available
*Use code GET200 on signup. to be eligible for £200 cashback. Further TCS apply
Register a company for only £14.99
Award-winning business account and no monthly fees
No monthly fee for three months
£12.50
0% AER
Not available
No credit checks & available to all business types
*LIMITED OFFER* Free business account for 3 months
Application takes minutes and your business account can be open on the same day you apply
Ongoing
No monthly fees
0% AER
None
Sign up today and unlock 1 month of a paid plan without subscription fees. T&Cs apply
Business account: hold, send and receive funds in 25+ currencies, exchange up to £1,000 at the interbank rate and only 0.6% fee for anything over this allowance. 1% for exchanges outside market hours.
Free smart debit cards for you and one team member: track and control spending in real-time
Ongoing
No monthly fees
0% AER
Loan facility Subject to terms
Up to 35% Cashback on selected categories
Open an account in minutes
No additional transaction or transfer charges
Having less than £50,000 in the account may earn a reduced rate of interest and may incur fees
No monthly fees
4.33% AER* (variable) instant access Savings Pot
None
Seamless money management at no cost using integrated accounting tools like Sage and Xero
Your business must be over 1 year in age and you must have a greater than £50K balance or an exisiting Allica's Loan Product Customer
Get a dedicated relationship manager
No monthly fee for three months
£3.00
0% AER
Not available
Business account with integrated invoicing, accounting and bookkeeping features
Trusted by 50,000+ sole traders and UK businesses
Apply for a business account in minutes
2 Years
No monthly fees
0% AER
None
FreeAgent is included as long as you retain your account
A dedicated Relationship Manager - a single point of contact to look after your business banking needs (turnover and eligibility criteria apply)
No monthly fee in the first 12 months. T&Cs apply
£8.50
0% AER
Please see ‘Credit facility’ information
No monthly account fee in the first 12 months, for new customers, thereafter a fee of £8.50 applies. T&Cs apply
Free invoicing and accounting software provided by FreshBooks, with your Barclays business account, worth over £260 per year. T&Cs apply
Charges for some bank transfers and card payments apply
No monthly fee in the first 12 months. T&Cs apply
£8.50
0% AER
Please see 'Credit facilty' information
No monthly account fee in the first 12 months, for new customers, thereafter a fee of £8.50 applies. T&C's apply. Other charges apply
Free invoicing and accounting software, provided by FreshBooks, with your Barclays business account, worth over £260 per year. T&C's apply.
Charges for some bank transfers and card payments apply
No monthly fee in the first 12 months. T&Cs apply
£8.50
0% AER
Please see ‘Credit facility’ information
No monthly account fee in the first 12 months, for new customers, thereafter a fee of £8.50 applies. T&Cs apply.
Free invoicing and accounting software, provided by FreshBooks, with your Barclays business account, worth over £260 per year. T&Cs apply
Charges for some bank transfers and card payments apply
2 Years
No monthly fees
0% AER
Credit options available
FreeAgent is included as long as you retain your account
No transaction fees for 2 years (then standard tariff applies)
No account fee for 12 months
£8.50 *
0% AER Credit Interest
Subject to eligibility and application
Free accounting software available to business account holders. T&C's Apply
Bank in whatever way suits your business - online, with our mobile app, over the phone or in branch
Support from our UK-based relationship team
Not applicable
No monthly fees
0% AER
None
Instant Access Savings Pots, 1.6% AER interest (variable) paid monthly (Ts&Cs apply)
Apply for a business account in minutes, no monthly fees
"Free UK bank transfers, spending categories and 24/7 customer support"
Our comparison service features a selection of providers from whom we receive commission. This table is ordered according to our commercial arrangements.
As a contractor, it's important that you choose the right bank account.
We help contractors across the UK switch
We work hard to negotiate the best deals
We help contractors to compare with ease
For a start-up, many banks will offer an introductory free banking period which means that you won't face monthly charges for using the account! However, other fees may apply.
What's important?
Additional fees for paying with cash
Is your branch local enough for you to get to?
Many banks will offer support to start-ups, whether that is offering a mentor or someone to help with software
All fees must be checked in case they are relevant to your business
It's not always the safest option to go with your current bank unless you have done the above and it fits into your businesses criteria!
Basic accounts generally offer no monthly fee, with fixed fees on payments in and out, withdrawals and deposits - meaning you'll always know what you're paying.
It's a fact that people are more likely to divorce their other half than switch their business bank account. If you are worried about switching, then you shouldn't be as all business accounts are covered by a 7-day switcher guarantee. (Just make sure your bank is registered with this scheme!).
What's important?
Don't just look at the free period, work out how much it will it cost after the fee free period
Ensure you know all fees relevant to your business to avoid surprises!
Switching can be done within 7 days
Make sure that those you bill are aware
If you are savvy enough to use online banking regularly then you may want to ask other business owners what their thoughts are on the application. Standards of online banking vary and no one wants to go backwards when they are trying to move forward.
If you are having trouble setting up a business bank account or switching from your current one, then there are still options available where you can avoid credit checks.
What they offer:
Debit cards
Online banking
The ability to pay into post offices or other establishments
Potential improvement on your credit rating
Quick setup and going to the branch is not required
Fees on the account can be paid monthly or annually. The account is simple and easy to use and it can also be cheaper than a standard business bank account!
Business accounts for contractors are very simple and straightforward, they are designed for individuals who are classed as contractors, self-employed or sole traders. Those who fit into these professions will generally use their business accounts for a much smaller amount of transactions, they will usually have smaller balances on their accounts – compared to larger businesses. A high street bank may not be required in this case.
Accounts for contractors can also have less restrictions than those for larger companies, this includes the fact that no minimum balance is required and that the application process is much simpler. A less complicated application process can be a huge help when it comes to setting up a contracting business it can also save you some time during the set up – as your own time is very precious!
Even though contractor accounts are created to have a simpler application process than standard accounts, they will still offer you the same benefits, such as direct debits, potential overdraft options and online account management.
Benefits of contractor current accounts
As contractors generally have lower levels of transactions than large businesses, most contractors accounts have no minimum balance requirement.
Many business bank accounts include the option to manage your account and payments online, giving you greater control of your finances.
Business bank accounts, including contractor accounts, can include free banking for periods of up to 26 months when you sign up for a new account.
After any free banking period, the fees for contractor accounts are generally lower than standard a business account, as contractors generally have less transactions and lower balances than a large business account.